Powerlifting nationals

Nelson Boutte is an old hand at big powerlifting meets. Catholic High classmate Ross Walet is preparing for his first national powerlifting meet.

Both are exited about this weekend’s USA Powerlifting High School National Championships, which will be held at the Riverfront Convention Center in Alexandria, the first such meet to be held in Louisiana.

“It’s been a blast,” said Boutte, who counts regional, state, national and international titles to his credit. “I don’t know how many friends I’ve met (at meets). So many are calling me from New York, Wisconsin, Michigan, Texas, Ohio, Idaho …”

And most are asking about one thing, he said — the food. Some girls also compete in powerlifting, he added. He knows of one in the 148-pound class who has lifted over 1,000 total pounds. The qualifying total for girls in that class is 512 pounds.

Boutte competes in the 132-pound weight class. Last summer he won his weight class at the sub-junior International Powerlifting Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, and finished second overall. His state title this year was his third straight.

“Nationals is a little different from state,” said Boutte. “You can place in each individual event. At state if you don’t place in (one event), you can’t compete (in the others). At nationals, if you go out in one event you can still compete in the other events.”

Walet, who competes in the 275-pound weight class, has been getting a few words about the national meet from Boutte.

“The meets don’t differ too much,” said Walet. “It’s pretty much the same thing, just bigger and better lifters.”

Walet set a regional record in the deadlift at 575 pounds. Boutte set a state squat record with a lift of 530 pounds. He’d also set regional records in the squat (520), bench press (255) and deadlift (505) for a new total lift record of 1,280 pounds in qualifying for the state meet. He reached 1,295 pounds total at state.

“The best I’ve done at nationals was last year, in the squat 507, 265 in the bench and 480 deadlift,” said Boutte. “This year I’m looking at 560 squat, hopefully 280-285ish bench and 530 deadlift. I’m looking to break 1,300 (total).”

Walet also has set some high goals for himself at nationals. His total at state was 1,365 pounds, after hitting 1,405 at regionals.

“Hopefully I’ll get 575 in the squat, about 350 bench and hopefully 600 deadlift,” Walet said.

“That’s what I’m shooting for right now.”

That would give him a total of 1,525 if he hits all three marks.

The two follow different workout regimens. Boutte, who will lift at LSU starting in the fall, uses a program set up by the LSU coaches that includes squat and bench work on Monday, deadlift on Tuesday, an off day on Wednesday, then repeating the cycle of the first two days on Thursday and Friday of every week. The coaches also have worked on technical aspects of the sport with him.

“Nelson’s got the LSU workout,” said Walet, then added with a smile, “I’m still on the old Butsy Walet workout.”

That means working out four days a week, as prescribed by CHS powerlifting coach Butsy Walet, who happens to be Ross’s father.

Boutte said that after checking in at the meet, there will be equipment checks, then weigh-ins about an hour before lifting starts. Lifters start with the squat, then do the bench press, then the dead lift. Boutte’s favorite lift is the squat, while Walet likes the dead lift best.

Each athlete gets three attempts at each lift, with the best mark counting toward the total lift. In special cases, such as breaking previous records, extra lifts are awarded, but those extra lifts do not count toward a lifter’s totals.

Both lifters are confident they can hit their goals and have a shot at winning the national title.

“The closest guy I see has a total a little over 1,000 right now,” said Boutte.

“At state I was 1,295. I missed it (his goal of 1,300) by 5 pounds.”

Walet hasn’t seen what any of the other competitors in his weight class have lifted.

He’s just focused on his own goals.

“It would be nice to meet what I’m shooting for,” he said. “I’ve been working out. It feels good. It’s a new experience. It’s something I’m looking forward to.”